Otto
Brohmer, a biography
Update log: August 2009: Updated broken link to Richter biography
July 2008: Updated information about John Weichman on 1900 census
Otto Brohmer was born on
September 23,
1845 in the kingdom of Prussia. (1)
His father was named Gustav Adolph
Brohmer and his mother was referred to as "Minnie."(2)
Mormon church
genealogy records online showed record of one "Gustav Adolph Brohmer"
and wife "Wilhelmine Beier" as having a child also named Gustav Adolph
Brohmer, born 09 Apr 1847. This seems a probable match as parents and
sibling to Otto, though this is unconfirmed. Potential brother Gustav
Adolph is shown as having been christened on 25 Apr 1847 at
"Sankt Johannes Kirche, Danzig Stadt, Westpreussen, Preussen."
In answer to the 1910 census request for "Year of immigration to the
U.S., Otto answered "1874." While the data is not in complete agreement
as far as date, a listing was found for one Otto Brohmer arriving in
New York on the ship "Smidt" on 19 Apr 1873. This listing shows one 27
year old male passenger, having departed from Bremen Germany.(3)
A
declaration of intent to become a citizen of the U.S. was filed with
the circuit court of Monroe County, State of Wisconsin on April 15th,
1874.
An
obituary listing for Otto stated that he came to Monroe county
"while still a young man, making a home near Sparta with an
uncle." No listing for another "Brohmer" who might
have been
the uncle, or even possibly a "Beier" uncle was found. However, the
1880 census showed Otto living with his father-in-law, John J. Wickman.
Registration of marriage papers show that Otto married "Dory Weichman"
whose father was listed as John Weichman and mother as Mary Ann
Weichman. Otto and Dory were married on November 1, 1876. 1880 census
records show Mrs. Otto Brohmer listed as
"Dorethea," while other census records, family records and even her
gravestone show her named as Dora. One hypothesis was made
that John
Wickman may have been the uncle, i.e., his wife and Otto's mother
potential sisters.
While still living with Dora's parents, Otto and Dora began their
family. 1880 census information shows sons August and "Adolph" were
part of the Wickman household. (All family and census records reflect
the name Adolph for the second born son, but, somewhat surprisingly,
Adolph's WWI draft registration card includes a full name of "Gustav
Adolph" Brohmer.) One child was born, living only 7 months, and the
dates of birth and death for Elinor Brohmer are unknown. In all, nine children were born to Otto and Dora. For a more
detailed listing of Otto's descendants, see the "Descendants of Otto B.
Brohmer" report on the Brohmer and Matteson family file page.
In a more thorough review of the 1900 census form, it was seen that the
listing right above that for Otto Brohmer was that of John Weichman.
Between the census taker and transcriber, this name had been recorded
to online databases as John Wirchman. John Weichman was 70 years old in
1900, remarried now to Frederica, and showing an "adopted daughter"
named Bertha Kngel, age 13, also in the household. It is assumed that
this may be a daughter from a previous marriage for Frederica, though
my genealogy software points out that Frederica would have been age 55
or 56 when Bertha was born. (Spelling uncertain.) It is possible that
Bertha is even Frederica's granddaughter, adopted by John.
No further record could be found for John Wickman, or John Weichman in
Wisconsin censuses. Dora's brother, Henry, was listed as a witness to
Otto and Dora's wedding, along with Amelia Rumppe, whose family was
prominent in Monroe county. No other confirmed record of Dora's
brother Henry in Wisconsin could be found after 1880.
Otto was
a farmer. And if the Otto Brohmer listed as coming to America on The Smidt
is our man, he listed himself as a "farmer" at that time, too. Farming
as a family occupation continued through the next several generations,
but it is quite likely that many of the 21st century descendants are
unfamiliar with what farm life is like, let alone what 19th century
Wisconsin life was like. Readers of this biography may also enjoy
reading a family history of a contemporary of Otto and Dora's children.
Log onto the following website to read Herman Richter's musings, which
include mention of the Brohmer "children" Anna, Arthur and Emma as
Herman's schoolmates. The rest of his narrative will give you a flavor
of rural Wisconsin life in the late 1800's and early 1900's. The
website address is:
http://files.usgwarchives.org/wi/monroe/bios/richter.txt
Otto and Dora were both buried in the Rumppe cemetery, also called
"Home" cemetery. At the time of this writing, Otto's
descendants
number at least five generations.
Sources:
1) U.S. citizenship papers renouncing allegiance to "William King of
Prussia" signed 15 April, 1874 before a circuit court clerk in Monroe
County, Wisconsin.
2) Registration of marriage form listing name of father and mother.
3) Ancestry.com database: New York Passenger Lists, 1851 - 1891